Hello everyone,

We received this picture today from the official marathon photographer. I love it! Look at those smiles! When Amy saw this photo she said, “we don’t just run the world, we charm them!” Well, isn’t that the truth! I love that you can see Cecilia, our “official member of the press” on top of the photographer’s ladder. I love that the “hot mayor” is in the photo! I know this photo isn’t of everyone, that many women are either running or cheering at the last bend leading into the finish, but I think it is a great snapshot of our fantastic weekend together.

I’m still floating on a happy cloud about the weekend and feeling very grateful to know all of you. So thrilled that everyone finished the race and so many runners had their best times. The group dynamic was very positive, supportive, welcoming, fun, appreciative and happy! Thank you so much for my spectacular painting by Charlotte. I just LOVE it! What a perfect gift. THANK YOU.

Ok, now we’re back in London and we brought the Italian sun with us. This week is about enjoying your success and doing a bit of running if you are up for it. Wednesday is a slow, easy 4-mile loop in the neighbourhood. It might feel good to get your legs moving again and shake out some of the post-race rust. Friday we have two options. You can either do one of our standard flat routes – the 6-mile Notting Hill route. (If you would prefer to run 4 miles, you can follow the first part of the course along the canal until you get to the part where you are under the highway overpass and turn around and head back to St. Johns Wood.) Or the other option is to head up the hill like we usually do on Friday.

Welcome Ex-Beginners!
Love that name!  The beginners are having one last beginner run together on Thursday this week. You can follow the route we set for Wednesday or you can decide on your own route. It really might feel good to get out and go for a nice easy run. Or if you’re not up for it, you can meet the group for coffee after they finish. Next week we’ll write more about integrating into the MWF group. We know that leaving the beginner group and joining the MWF group can feel a bit scary, but we’ll help you make the transition. I promise!

LONDON MARATHON THIS SUNDAY
Darcy, Mee and Adela are running the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April. AWESOME! Please let me know if you would like to join the group going to watch. Can you also let me know if you are willing to be the organiser person on that morning?

Save the Date – Friday 5 June
Friday 5 June is our traditional “Sights of London” run followed by the end-of-year coffee to say good-bye to our WRW friends that are moving.  Can you please let us know if you are leaving at the end of the year?  (We’ll miss you!)

We’d love your help!

Please let us know if you’d like to help in any way with WRW next year. There are lots of jobs, both big and small.

That’s all for now – except to keep running!

Jane

ROUTES

Monday, 20 April – Travel Day

Congratulations on your half marathon!  Enjoy a well-deserved day off.

Wednesday 22 April – Regents Park loop (4 miles)

Head down Grove End Road as though going to Hyde Park BUT at Marylebone Road, turn left and follow Marylebone Road, past Madame Tussauds, then turn left at York Bridge and right at the Outer Circle.  Follow the Outer Circle counter clockwise, all the way to the crosswalk by the US Ambassador’s House. Cross out of the Park and head to Starbucks.

Friday 24 April –

OPTION 1 – Notting Hill (4-6+ miles)

If you feel like running flat today you can do the traditional Notting Hill route.  Start out by heading west on Circus Road, turn left on Grove End to St John’s Wood Road and go west, working your way to the canal entrance on Blomfield.  Enter the canal and run to the Ladbroke Grove exit then run down Ladbroke Grove to Elgin Crescent and make a left.  Continue to Ledbury and go right and then left at Westbourne Grove.  Run down Westbourne Grove over Bishop’s Bridge and down the steps into Sheldon Square [across from Paddington Station].  Go back along the canal and out where you entered, then run back to Starbucks.

You also have the option of a shorter run by not getting off the canal. Run half the distance you want, turn around and head home. As a rule of thumb, the two mile mark is the Westway overpass.

 

OPTION 2- The Heath

If you’re up for the hill, you can take on the Heath!  You can pick your distance and whatever you choose, there will certainly be someone else interested in running that distance.  All of these routes are on the website.

In addition, every week there are a group of women who prefer to do a flat run.  We can help make sure that you find each other.  

4 miles:  A great way to ease into running the hill.   Run up to the Hampstead tube station and back.
5 miles: The Betsy Route
6-7miles:  The partial Heath route
7.5 miles: The Highgate route
8 miles:  The full Heath route

Click here for maps of all of the Heath routes.